Best RWD V6 transplat option? I'm thinking Isuzu 3.2L!!! What!!!

[jfallen]

I’ve been thinking are there any light weight NA V6 engines out there that people are overlooking for transplants into 70’s RWD’s? Is there a better option? Is there something worth taking a punt on? I believe there is. The all-aluminium, Honda cast, Isuzu designed quad cam 3.2 and 3.5L V6 (6VD1 and 6VE1 respectively.)



This lump of forgotten metal came in virtually every petrol Holden Rodeo between 1996 and 2004 with updates in 2000 (tall deck, minor head revisions) and 2002 (3.5L.) It’s a bit of an oddball with its 75o Bank angle, but who cares, it’s setup for even firings.




lets take a look at how things stack up.

• It's heap,
  Available,
  Unwanted,
  RWD,
  Came out of a ute, so manual gearboxes are plentiful
  Mechanical throttle body (because drive-by-wire sucks, especially for old cars,)
  Forward facing intake manifold,
  6-Bolt Mains, (4 from underneath, 2 from the sides)
  Skirted Main caps
  Crank girdle,
  Forged Rods
  Boost friendly 9:1 compression (but yeah, pretty mild for an NA Engine.)
  Large and well-designed intake and exhaust ports.
  Quad cam, 4-valve, cam-bucket design (Australia never got the SOHC thankfully.
  Built like a brick shithouse.
  But light because all aluminium and V6
  A stout and torquey, 200bhp @ 5500-6000~RPM with cats and stock exhaust. in a 'light' and compact package

My question is:
Has anyone else considered these engines for a swap into say a A22/3 or old corolla, corona? Seem like far better options than any of the Toyota V6’s (No easy RWD options.) Except the 1GR-FE, but that’s too expensive and has Drive-by-wire. I’m liking the V6 because of how compact they are (narrower than say a 1UZ) and shorter (obviously being a V6.) But also less power. The factory manual options are the really tempting aspect.



Let me know what you guys think. I’m getting tempted…

regards
Jordan

[fixeruperer]

i dont know much about these motors, but anyone that i know that has one, has only ever had problems with them. and a few that have come into the shop have been rattly, oil burning, leaking heaps. i dont know if this can be overcome with other internals and better parts. but id never use one.
call up an engine building machine shop, see what common problems they have or if anyone has gotten anything decent out of a built one.

[wa5]

funny, was having a similar conversation today with a mate about RWD V6 conversions, he was thinking about Magna TJ 3.5 V6s, because they are plentiful, cheap and un burstable. but neither of us has any idea of a suitable bolt on rwd box.

[jfallen]

The late 90's triton Ute's came in a V6 3.0L in RWD, but are very rare. Most of the V6's are 4WD, with most 2WD's being 4 cylinders.

In regards to the first response. I've honestly heard mixed reviews, Even tanken a few Rodeo's for a "Scouting" test drive to feel the motor, see how it revs and changes gear. The one's I've driven have all been strong with +200k on the clock and no smoke. The problems seem to be slack owners (tradies) who don't service them regularly. Privet family cars tend to be in far better condition.

Jordan.

[trdee]

how do they flow? not much use if they are the equivalent of a 4AC in the flow stakes... internals prob would require beefing up to cope with boost and then you run into the question of aftermarket support..

[jfallen]

There is/was a bolt on supercharger kit that ran ~10PSi through the stock motor no worries. Popular in the truck scene in the USA. As said it has factory forged rods. Crank is cast but extremely well supported, a few with +600bhp on it so good enough for me.

The problem with classic performance, is any rebuilt engine is going to cost $2500-3000 these days or there abouts. And a 2T/18R/4AGE/1GG(T/Z)E/XM-inline 6, will never be as grunty (not to mention the weight panelty) as this V6 without a fair bit more $$ spent. Even the 2JZGE & 7MGE aren't viable for size and weight reasons (iron inline 6's are heavy and long.)

1UZFE is light and more powerful of course but larger in all dimensions. Also $$ need to be spent setting it up for a manual box.

VG30DE FROM a 300ZX I'd not bad, but a packaging nightmare into a smaller engine bay. Also iron block. VG30E is a genuine contender, they quite small, but these are getting really old, iron block, SOHC and 2 valve.

Toyota 55VZFE 3.4L V6 from the Aussie Prado initally seemed good. But we're not locally delivered with a RWD gearbox. Popular in the States, but too much gliding around. Also iron block.

Commodore 3.6 AlloyTec, VQ35/88DE and 1GRFE all looks good but they're much more expencive. And as I said in post 1, Drive-by-wire us not something I want to be darting around with. Not to mention the crap throttle response on stock ECU's. The other issue is the 350Z/hilux gearbox is massive.

I'm after a lazy light weight 200bhp. This just fits?

Jordan.

P.S. the intake and exhaust ports are massive, and we'll designed.

[greenmac80]

if U think its a good idea. go ahead and get on with it!! be original for sure.

[knightrous]

I've driven a 2000's Rodeo with one of these in it and it had no problems lighting the tires up with half a tonne of stock feed on the tray.
Was the best work ute we had, just a pisser it drank so much fuel that the boss phased them out for Hilux 3L TD's.

For Toyota V6's, the 1MZ/3MZ/2GR all have the same flywheel diameter and bell housing bolt pattern as a 3SGTE, even uses the same clutch (Flywheel PCD is different to 3SGTE, but flywheels are available off the shelf). Joel did a 1MZFE into RA28 Celica and I believe used a W57 behind it. (Build thread - http://www.toymods.org.au/forums/thr...FE-RA28-Celica)

[jfallen]

I'm looking at engines at the moment. Need to find the right deal.

Only 2,concerns.

1: while doing an inspection yesterday found out the engines are rear sumped, steering draglink could possibly be in the way. Old 70's steering box Toyota's have this draglink just in front of the bellhousing. This is where the sump is.

2: Overall height may be an issue. While the engine is compact, the stock inlet manifold sits quite tall.

Jordan.

[trdee]

seems like an interesting option. would be interested to see a build thread if you follow through

[StuC]

R&P coversion, Custom winged sump, Custom inlet for turbo boostage or cooler/manifold for supercharged radness. Problem solved

[LittleRedSpirit]

Do it mate, don't muck around being put off, just do it cause you clearly believe in it, and I love v6 conversions. If I could have found a v6 that weighs similar to 4age Id have put on in my car.

[dumbass]

don't waste your time as these commonly fail and I think even the electronics are bad too

a good v6 engine is a vq35
or a vq30det

I wired up a vq30det into an r30 skyline and the thing did a single spinner wheel spin with no brakes for about 80m

and they r rear wheel drive and all alloy

[knightrous]

don't waste your time as these commonly fail and I think even the electronics are bad too

What fails?

Plenty of the listed motors in this thread fail because of lack of maintenance, but they are all decent options.

[fixeruperer]

there was a batch of motors between a few years (dont know which years) that had bad oil control rings and they would burn oil bad.
they for some reason all leak oil pretty good and they all (from what ive seen and heard) have a nice top end rattle.

like i said before, maybe different parts can solve these issues. i just personally havnt got a good view on them. not to say they arnt any good, just the ones i seen/worked on, weren't, haha.